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American small business owners say they are growing more optimistic about the economy and their own prospects for success. That's according to a survey by the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Other recent reports also suggest that the economy is continuing to improve.

The USDA's first crops supply report of the new year surprised some analysts. That's because it didn't lower the estimate for corn in storage. Predictably. that led the commodity to drop about 50 cents a bushel.

The English-language version of the online encyclopedia will shut down for 24 hours Wednesday to protest an anti-piracy bill in Congress. Visitors to Wikipedia will be encouraged to call Congress. The site's co-founder Jimmy Wales tweeted he hopes visitors "will melt phone systems in Washington."

The European company Airbus reports it took a record number of orders in 2011 — more than 1,400. The surge was driven by demand for its revamped A-320 aircraft which is supposed to be more fuel efficient. Meanwhile Boeing sold only about 800 aircraft last year.

The young Egyptian who became one of the faces of the Arab Spring says much more needs to be done to bring democracy to his country, but much has also already been achieved.

After a struggle, a Coast Guard icebreaker was able to help get a Russian tanker close enough to be able to offload the cargo. Without it, the Alaskan city's 3,500 people were going to soon run out of gasoline and diesel fuel.

Also: Republican rivals take aim at Romney in debate; stock market continues to rise; much-needed fuel arrives in Nome, Alaska.

Unemployed doorman Alexis Rodriguez, New York's Daily News reports, got a $44,776,587 bill for his recent three-week stay at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital. Needless to say, a mistake was made.

For patients, the effect of seeing their doctors' notes in black and white can be huge. A note labeling a patient as obese, for example, may be much more effective than a physician's advice to lose weight.

SOPA and PIPA (no, they're not the Duchess of Cambridge's sisters) will be on the minds of a lot more people Wednesday because of the online protests by Wikipedia, Google and other popular websites over anti-piracy legislation under consideration by Congress.